User Reviews

Peachy stone fruit, milled wheat, coriander, and white pepper is the primary sensation on the nose. There's a slight hint of yuzu-like citrus on the back end, joined by notes of dried leather and more nose-tickling white pepper.

The nose is well-matched to the palate with the robust wheaty flavor balanced out by the more delicate coriander and white pepper. There's a very effeminate character to this beer that I can't quite put my finger around; not sure if they used soft water for this but the general impression I'm getting is "soft" and "soothing." The label on the bottle wasn't joking about the "piquantly quenching" part; there's a spicy bite to this beer as it travels beyond the palate which provides a nice contrast to the overall soft character of the brew; perhaps Bryan is trying to subtly reveal something about his wife through subliminal brewing. (外柔内剛)

Uncharacteristically medium-bodied for a saison with lively carbonation. Overall a very pleasing start to what should be a nice relaxing Friday night.

Pours a golden colour, slow bead, bit more clarity than I'd like. Head is a whispy cloud, white with medium bubbles, average lacing. Looks quite unexciting.

Smells Belgian, slightly estery and phenolic rather than funky. Granny Smith apple, pear and a touch of star anise on there. Touch of barnyard at the back, but it's mostly Summery fruits and that slight Belgian yeast spice. Pleasant certainly, just not very saisony.

Far more funk on the palate. Organic, rubbery kind of flavour from the get-go with a side-order of apple, peach and citrus that builds towards the mid-palate. At midpoint, the yeast takes over again, developing organic barnyard notes and some earthy spice notes. Touch more fruit on the back. Still a bit more Belgian pale than genuine saison, but there is that funky bent as a saving grace.

A bit of carbonation sizzle, but it goes away by the end. Still, a touch thin.

Bought this beer purely to use in apple muffins. I think the match will work really well. AS a standalone beer it's great drinking, but I still think it's a bit lacking in true, classic saison character.

Pours a faintly hazed bright golden colour, with twinges of orange at the deeper portions of the glass. Head forms solidly, creating a coarse, but persistent head of white. Carbonation is minimal. Body is light. Looks decent enough.

Nose is quite pleasant: initially, a sweet vegetative character comes through, almost giving a gueuze-like funk, but this disappears quickly, leaving a more rugged earthy tone to the aroma. As it warms, it becomes a bit simpler and more subtle but still very pleasant.

Taste is also decent, but missing some of the refinement that made the aroma so good. Slight herbal tones of rosemary and pine come through, but the basis is a rather flat sweetness with some granary overtones. Light yeast characters give it a zest at the end, but it also feels a little bit thin. It's a shame: while it's certainly drinkable, the aroma was suggestive of something much better.

Certainly drinkable, and enjoyable to a good degree, but there were hints it was going to be a lot better than it ultimately ended up. Still worth trying, but it could have been much more.

On the menu this is identified as 'Baird Saison Sayuri - 2009', but I'm not sure how it differs from previous versions. Regardless, of all the Baird beers I've come across, this one is one of the best (and would be the best were it not for the heavenly Divine Vamp 3 served at Popeye's). Listed as 5.6%.

Clouded gold pour with a frothy white head that fades to a thick film, but leaves some fingers of lace on the way down. The nose is very Belgian, with its spicy yeastiness and hints of banana mixing with garden aromas of flowers and herbs. Limited funk, which makes this quite vibrant and bright for a saison.

My first sip reveals an outstanding flavour which could be placed alongside the better examples of the style. At first its the citrus that makes a big impression. Apparently this beer uses rinds of the Shizuoka Daidai fruit, which is a kind of sour orange, and it lends a wonderful bouquet that hits the top of the palate at the beginning of the sip. After a brief moment, though, other flavours start to assert themselves. A glorious earthiness underpins everything, and acts as a background to the funk, leather, cider and marmalade flavours which high five the tastebuds. There's even a eyeopening mix of lime and strawberry floating around, which adds yet more complexity. The body is fairly light with a spritzy carbonation, and manages to be paradoxically drying and quenching at the same time.

This is really an excellently made saison, and one of the better Japanese beers I've come across. Highly recommended.